Combing machine



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June 26, 1951 Flled Jan 4 1945 O. C. HINSON COMBING MACHINE June 2s, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 4, 1945 Unas C. Hm/so/v @u K. W

June 26,'1951 @C HINSON' 2,559,106

couBING MACHINE:y

Jne 26, 1951 Filed Jan. 4, 1945 O. C. HINSCN COMBING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Il 1 1 1 l l 1r.

Junel 26,' 19.51 ogc. HiNsoN COMBING'MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 4, 1945 Ous C; H//VsQ/V Patented June 26, 1951 coMBING MACHINE Odus C. H inson, Cramer-ton, N. C.. assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Terrell Machine Company, Charlotte, N. C., a. corporation of North Carolina Application January 4, 1945, serial Nn. 571,231

'(cl. 1er-11s) 35 claims. 1

This invention relates in general to liber combing machines, and in particular to cotton combing machines operating on the principles of the well-known Heilmann comber. contemplates a comprehensive reorganization of the structure, functions, and motions of the entire machine,'in the effort to produce substantial improvement in its emciency. As heretofore, this machine is of course designed to operate upon cotton fibers having average staple lengths varying throughout the range customarily used in the production of combed yarns; this range is usually between 111g inches and 11%; inches, although for nner yarns special cottons having an average staple length on the order of 11/2 inches are occasionally combed with it.

A leading object of the invention is to increase the production of the comber in terms of pounds of combed cotton produced per hour.- whereby material savings to the mill and in the initial cost of the machines and floor space required, and in the power, upkeep and attendance will be effected.

Another leading object of the invention is to improve the quality of the combed sliver produced by the machine, so as to make the yarn spun from such sliver cleaner and stronger than heretofore, such improvement residing not only in more complete removal of short fibers and neps and trash while retaining more of the long fibers, but also in the attainment of more uniform ber density in the combed sliver at all points in its length, whereby better drawing and a reduction in the drawing and doubling processes will be attained. Further objects are to simplify the machine, both for the purpose of reducing the cost of building the machine itself, and for the purpose of facilitating its operation, its setting and adjustment, and its servicing; and to eliminate or reduce wear and thus the need for repairs and replacement of parts. Still further objects are to provide improved facilities for salvaging and disposing 4of the waste produced in the operation of the machine; and to prevent or reduce ,to a minimum the. production of fly.

To these ends, the invention is based on the principle of making the combed sliver uniform in thickness or liber density at all points in its length in the act of piecing up at the detaching roll. This is attained byoverlapping the successive combed tufts each for more than half its length in such manner that the desired uniform thickness or ber density is secured at this location, and preferably through making the combed web, lap, or sheet of the thickness of two, three,

The invention ormore combed tufts, or the equivalent thereof, as may be decided upon as the standard in advance, throughout all points in its length. This is in distinct contrast to the system of piecing-up employed in all prior combing machines with which I am acquainted, in which each successive combed tuft is overlapped onto the preceding combed tuft for-a distance materially less than 'half the length of the preceding combed tuft.

combed tufts are necessarily sharply tapered oi and thinned down bythe nature of the detaching action, and only these feathered end-portions of reduced fiber density are brought into 1overlapping relation in prior machines, the re'- sulting combed web in prior machines is of single ply construction and maximum thickness or density at midlength of each combed tuft, and of 2-ply nature but of greatly reduced ber density throughout the zones of overlap between each two successive combed tufts. This variation in ber density is. what gives the combed web in the pan of the prior Heilmann type combers its conspicuous and characteristic transversely barred or striped appearance.

The overlapping of eachv tuft for more than half its length onto the preceding and following tufts which is employed according to the invention to create the predetermined consistent 2, 3, or more, ply thickness of the combed web, makes the beginning of each combed tuft add and the ending thereof detract a much lesser percentage to or from the thickness of the combed web than in prior arrangements, imparting an inherent and visible uniform density to the combed web which persists throughout all subsequent processes into the finished yarn, giving more uniform and stronger yarn and stronger cloth, with greatly reduced doubling and drawing, and with marked reduction in end breakage in all processes.

As relates to production, a substantial amount of force is required to be exerted on the successive tufts by the detaching rolls in order to .pull out and draft the stock and detach the tuft. There is thus a limit to the number of fibers the detaching rolls can draft at a time, beyond which limit the rolls will be overloaded and slip, and will not detach a proper and uniform tuft, and the fibers which escape are left hanging from the fringe protruding from the nippers and are torn olf as waste by the needle segment on the next combing action. Consequently, the theory and practice in prior combers has been that to attain good combing it was necessary to comb light" by restricting the weight of lap fed to the comber to a maximum of around 850 grains per yard of l2-inch lap and an average of 700 grains per yard in ordinary practice, feeding such lap at the rate of around .18 inch per nip, and producing a relatively short combed tuft never exceeding 21/2 in length which has been subjected to a draft of around 7 times by `the action of the detaching rolls, with the production of a -head comber limited to around pounds per hour of combed cotton. In these machines, when the lap weight or the feed is increased in the eort to increase production, the combed tufts become too thick and overload the detaching rolls, as well as giving rise to other diiculties impairing production. A'

In accordance with the invention, however, my multiply combed lap is formed of combed tufts which preferably are subjected to a draft on the order of .20 or more times by the action of the detaching rolls. This makes it possible to double the weight of the lap fed to the machine, and thus to double the production of the machine at the standard number of nips per minute without need to increase materially the length of the feed, which would reduce the combing action of the half-lap, and without overloading the detaching rolls and causing them to Islip, since fewer fibers are seized and drawn forward at a given-instant. Because the combined tuft is extendedthree or more times as far as in prior machines, it requires less effort to draft it. Because the combed tuft is thinner, and fewer bers are pulled through the top comb at any given instant, the top comb is able to do a more complete job of removing the neps and foreign matter from the tail portions ofthe bers making up the combed lap.

To facilitate the great increase in the draft, improvements have been made in the nipper jaws enabling them to grip the fibers much closer than UJI previously to the path of the needle points on the half-lap, so that more of the length of each fiber is combed by the half-lap before going forward and more short bers and fewer long bers are removed, leaving less of such length to be combed by the top comb, permitting the top comb to enter the combed fringe closer to the bite of the nippers and so leaving a longer fringe in front of the top comb, which makes it possible to give this fringe the long forward motion by the combined action of the feed roll andthe forward swing of the swing frame which is helpful duringA detaching in order to produce the long draft of the invention. In prior structures, the shortness of this fringe forward of the top comb prevented any great amplitude of forward movement of the top comb after entering the fringe,

as such movement would bring the top comb into collision with the detaching rolls; and hence the prolonged forward movement of the combed fringe after seizure by the detaching rolls which facilitates'high production was impossible. I'he longforward movement during detaching, coupled with an increased rate of surface travel of the detaching rolls, causes the leading ends of thefbers of the fringe to be seized progressively throughout a longer distance of such movement and drawn forward aheadv of the adjacent but lagging fibers, thereby lengthening the draft.

By reason of the increased length of the portion of each fiber combed by the-halflap before release by the nipper jaws, not only is less fulllengthand usable ber thrown down as waste, but the half-lap subjects each fiber to a'greater number of strokes before release, making it possible to use fewerand hence coarser needles in the standard number of rows on the half-lap, reducing clogging and failure to comb properly. Being coarser, the needles can be made thicker and stronger, and thus can be made longer, which in turn permits the increase in the weight of the supply lap while still effecting proper combing thereof.

I have found that the increase in the weight of the supply lap made possible through the fea tures of my invention in itself attains an important advantage. By increasing the weight of the supply lap, which I have successfully done up to 1500 grains per yard of 12 inch lap, or substantially double the weights employed in prior combers, the density and strength of the supply lap coupled with the progressive seizing of only the endmost fibers of the combed fringe by the detaching rolls in each detaching action, causes the stock itself to wipe the. short fibers, neps and trash off from the tails of the fibers caught and pulled forward by the detaching rolls, these short bers, neps -and trash being left behind in the supply lap and removed therefrom by the halflap during the combing of the next tuft.

To create the multiply lap and to produce and handle the combed tufts of greatly increased length whichmake possible the increase in the production of the machine, substantial increases are made in the surface travel and velocity of the detaching rolls, and in the diameter of the bottom steel detaching roll, the latter increase aiding in supporting the longer extent of combed lap fed back for the piece-up. A feature of improvement in this connection resides in employing only three rolls to perform the detaching and piecing-up operation, Iwhile eliminating all oscillating or bodily movement of any of these rolls, with consequent simplifying of structure. operation, and adjustment, and with the function of one of the rolls reduced merely to forming the combed lap to the curvature of the bottom steel detaching roll so that it will curve down-y ward in front of and out'of contact with the combing cylinder in piecing-up, and also to compacting or calendering the tufts into a coherent combed lap. Novel provision is also made for preventing contact of the combed tuft with the combing cylinder when fed back for piecing-up. Improvements have also been made inthe shaping of the cams operating the detaching rolls and the swing frame to enable the combing and drafting of tufts of increased length.

Extensive sniplication of the structre, motions, and actuation of the working partsY in addition to those already detailed, and even of the fixed structural parts of the device, as well as simplifications in the adjustments) and improvements in the bearings and provisions for lubrication thereof and the elimination of troublesome points of wear, leading to economies in the cost of construction and operation, have been made as set forth hereinafter. A novel pneumatic waste salvage disposal system is provided, continuously removing all waste and fly produced in the combing and detaching actions and depositing it directly in the waste bin; improved means for examining the waste to determine the percentage of `ber being removed in the combing is also provided, all as set forth hereinafter.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner ing description.

working parts present in each comber head shown in isolated relation in the successive comber heads for clarity.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left-hand end of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the comber heads at line 3-3in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 3, showingin detail the swing frame and its working parts and their relation to the combing cylinder and the detaching rolls, and the actuation of the nippers and the top comb.

Fig. 5 is a View in vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the drives for the detaching.

Fig. 8 is a. section on line 8-8 of Fig-5, giving details of the differential gearing driving the de taching rolls.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevation ofthe planetary gear plate of the differential gearing of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a section on line II-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic showing of the relationship of the successive combed tufts which form the multiply combed lap.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing how the multiply combed lap is produced. i

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the .improved nipper jaws, combing cylinder, and feed roll, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 15 is a detail in side elevation showing the quick release pressure means for weighting the detaching rolls.

Fig. 16 is a view of certain of the parts of Fig. 5 in front elevation.

work together in performing the combing action in accordance'with the basic principles of the Heilmann type comber.

In the machine of the invention, an outstanding feature of novelty is the use of the rocking movement of small amplitude of rockshaft I3 Vto swing the swing frame II back and forth, and

- from this simple motion alone to operate 'the nippers and the feed roll, tobring the stock held by the nippers into combing relation with the needles of the half-lap, to lower the topiy comb into the combed fringe, to feed the hea ends of the combed fibers into the nip of the detaching rolls, and to drive the lap rolls feeding the uncombedstock into the machine, all in properly timed. and co-ordinated relation.

The swing frame I I of each head comprises two pendent arms 2| Aeach 'ilxed by its'hub 22 upon rockshaft I3 by apair of set screws 23. To the inward surface of each of these arms there is attached by cap screw the upwardly extending end of a heavy lug 21 formed integrally at each end of -a heavy cross-member 29 of roughly triangular section with rounded upper apex, the inclined forward surface of which member 29 serves as a guide for the descending lap. The lower jaw 3| of the nippers, the cushion plate, so-called, is

` applied within a rabbet formed inthe'under sur- In the front elevation of Fig. l, the combing cylinder carrying the half-lap is indicated at I, the stripping brush which clears the waste from the needles 3 of the half-lap being indicated at 5, and the' other parts which cooperate in the combing action being omitted from this particular head for clarity, being shown separately in connection with the other heads. Thus, the bottom detaching roll is indicated at 1 in connection with the next head tothe right thereof,

together with a housing 9, generally rectangular in plan, which wholly surrounds the stripping brush 5, includes the lower half of the combing cylinder, and approaches closely to the surface of such cylinder at the rear of the machine and to the periphery of bottom detaching roll 1 at the front of the machine, whereby all vily produced by the combing action is carried down and away Y from these rolls by a, downwardly traveling air y the comber. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where they.

face of the member 29', being secured by cap screws 33 passing through slots 35 therein, so that the lower jaw may be adjusted back and forth transversely of member 29 by operation of set screws 31 bearing against the rear' edge of lower jaw 3|. Two downwardly inclined brackets 39 extend rearwardly from cross-memn .ber 29 at each end thereof, having hubs 4I in To actuate the nippers, an arm 5`I is xed on the end of shaft 43 outside one -bracket 39, the upper end of which arm is pivotcd at 53 to a clevis 55 on one end of a threaded link`51 passing through a bearing 59 on a fixed part 6I of the frame of the machine, with adjustable stopfnuts 63 applied to the rearward end ofv the link and with an expanding coil spring 65 confined between the bearing 59 and stop-nuts 3.1 located at an intermediate point in the length of link 51. Thus, as the swing frame I I swings back, i. e., toward the right in Figs. 3 and 4, spring B5 tends to hold the upper end of arm 5I from moving rearwardly while its lower end attached to shaft 43 moves rearwardly, thus rotating shaft 43 and arms 45 counter-clockwise to force top nipper yjaw 41 yieldingly downward against bottom jaw 3 I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 14, to grip the intervening lap while the fringe of fibers protruding from the jaws is combed by the needles 3 of the needle segment of combing cylinder I. When the swing frame swings forward, stop-nuts 53 bring up against bearing 59,causing link 51 to detain the upper end of arm 5I while the lower end thereof moves forward, thus causing a reverse rotation of shaft 43 which lifts top nipper jaw 41 well away from bottom jaw 3 I, as shown in Fig. 3, permitting feeding of the uncombed lap.

The motion of pivot 53 in space is so slight that there is practically no movement of link 51 through bearing 59, and thus the wear on the parts producing the' opening and closing of the nipper jaws is practically Adjustment of stop-nuts 61 along link 51 to increase or reduce the tension of spring 65 completely controls the force with which the jaws close upon the lap. Adjustment of stop-nuts 63 along the link determines the moment of opening of the nipper jaws. When properly adjusted, nuts 63 need not leave their contact with the end of bearing 59 more than 1A; inch.

Departing from prior practice, the main grip of the nipper jaws upon the fibers held between them is exerted between the vertical rearward face of the pendent lip 69, Fig. 14, of top nipper jaw 41 and the opposing edge 1| of the bottom jaw 3 I. Some holding effect is of course obtained between the top surface of bottom jaw 3| and the rearwardly extending opposing surface of the top jaw 41 as heretofore; but the rearward surface of lip 69 and of the opposing edge of bottom jaw 3| are purposely cut with a slight downward and forward bevel, so that when closed upon the intervening lap the jaws wedge together and the main gripping pressure is exerted in the direction of the plane of lower jaw 3|. Adjustment of lower jaw 3I in such plane by means of screws 33 and 31 is provided to insure Vsuch grip. By making the'forward edge of lower jaw 3| relatively thin and by shortening the pendent lip 69 of the upper jaw to substantially the same length as the thickness of such forward edge, the fibers forming the fringe protruding from the closed jaws are gripped much closer than heretofore to the path of the needle points on combing cylinder thereby exposing more of the length of each fiber to the combing action of these needles before being released and drawn forward by the detaching rolls, and also retaining more of the desired full-length fibers which arrive at the nipper jaws in oblique relation to the direction of feed, thus resulting in both more complete removal of short fibers, neps and trash, and in better parallelizing of the fibers, helping to make possible efficient combing of a double-weight lap, coupled with greater economyof bers of usable length. Also, by reason of such close holding, the top comb which should enter the fringe forward of the point where the half-lap needles terminate their action, can do so at points near the tails of the fibers thus combed, with important results which will be referred to later herein.

The nipper jaws close well before the swing frame I I reaches its extreme rearward position of Fig. 4, and the leading rows of needles 3 of the half-lap enter the fringe held by the jaws while the latter are movingrr rearward and before they have reached their point of closest approach to the path of the needles. Thus the needles enter the fringe to a progressively increasing depth, .during the passage of the rst quarter of the half-lap, the leading rows making a shallow penetration and the following rows penetrating to full depth as the swing frame dwells at back center while the remaining three-quarters of the half-lap passes and combs the fringe. Thereby the cleaning out and untangling of the fibers is effected more gradually and progressively.

To the same end, the half-lap is extended to encompass one-third of the circumference of combing cylinder I, so that the combing is prolonged throughout this fraction of the machines cycle. The usual 17 rows of needles are prefer- 'tightly and fed through the nipper jaws.

ably used. However, the fibers are gripped by the nipper jaws closer to the path of the needles and thus with the standard rate of feed of the stock of approximately l each fiber is subjected to a greater number of strokes of the-half-lap before being drawn forward by the detaching rolls. This factor, coupled with the gradual and prolonged nature of the combing action,l makes it possible to effect thorough combing even of a lap of increased thickness with fewer and hence coarser needles having less tendency to clog and thus to fail to comb properly. With the needles thus set farther apart in the rows, they can be made thicker and hence of increased strength permitting them to be made longer than possible heretofore. Being longer, they can penetrate through and properly comb a thicker fringe, thus aiding in making possible the use of a Supply lap of greatly increased thickness and weight.

The remaining two-thirds of the periphery of the combing cylinder is of smooth, polished metal and of substantially the same radius as that of the path of the needle points.

Feed roll 13 has coarse metal flutes, and is at least half again as large in diameter as in prior machines, to handle the double-weight lapwithout puckering. Its journals 15 are held in halfbearings formed in the end-portions of rockers 11 pivoted on screws 19 threaded into the lower portions of lugs 21, the rear extremities of these rockers being pivoted at 3| each to a clevis 83 whose end is threaded into a contracting coil spring similarly attached to a plug 81 fixed on the end of a rod 89 equipped at its upper end with a handlel, the rod having a portion 93 of re-. duced diameter normally reposing in the radial slot of a keyhole-shaped passage 95 `through a bracket 91 extending from the back of the hub on arm 2| which encircles rockshaft I3. The supply lap fed to the machine is in the form of the usual roll 99, resting on flanged wooden rollers |0| of standard type, Ibeing unrolled from the bottom of roll 99 and following the path in- .dicated by dot-and-dash line |02 over the front roller |0I, over rockshaft I3, and thence between feed roll 13 and lower jaw 3|, where it is gripped In threading up, therefore, the feed roll pressure must be released. and for this purpose rod 89 is pushed rearward to disengage the shoulder at the top of reduced portion 93 from the keyhole slot to permit the rods full diameter to .descend through the circular portion of the keyhole, thus permitting the feed roll-to be lifted and rotated manually to enter the lap thereunder. This done. the tension is restored by pulling upward and forward on handlevSI to put the parts back into the relation shown in Fig. 4.

Ihe feed roll is actuated by means of a ratchet |03 fixed on one journal thereof beyond the rocker 11, the ratchet being engaged by a pawl |05 pivoted on stud |1 xed in the machine frame, and which also supports the top comb I5, the shank of the pawl passing through a lug |01 on a hub |09 rotating on stud I1 and being adjustable up and down by means of nuts I to feed the ratchet one tooth during the forward swing of swing frame Variation in the length of feed is attained when necessary by substituting a ratchet having more or less teeth. In practice, a feed of around .20 inch of lap pernip is commonly employed. The partial unwinding of the lap from around shaft I3 during the forward swing of the nippers supplies a certain amount of slack in theV each arm 2| of the swing frame.

lap for the feed. The main supply is as usual effected by the driving of lap rolls IIII.

The novel top comb I comprises a comb plate I|3 having needles set along its lower edge, suchplate being secured by screws I I5 to a carrier |I1 provided at each end with a boss II9 into which is threaded a long headed screw-rod I2I which extends loosely through a sleeve |23 formed integrally with but inwardly of the plane of the end of a hub which swings freely on stud I1. A link |21 pivoted upon a cap screw |29 threaded into a lug formed at each end of carrier ||1 has a hook I3I formed in its rearward end which hooks over a pin |33. adjustably xed in a slot in a lug |31 extending forward from Thus, a forward and backward swing is imparted to top comb I5 by the corresponding swinging movement of the swing frame as rockshaft I3 is oscillated. As the top comb swings about a different center, the path of the needle points of the top comb intersects that of the lower nipper jaw 3| and the needles enter the combed fringe being carried forward by the latter as indicated d by the arcs in Fig. 4; Because the fibers have been held by the nippersat a pointin their length which is very close to the point at which the half-lap needles have combed these fibers, the combed fringe is much longer than heretofore, on the order of half again as long. The top comb is set to enter the combed fringe close to the lower nipper jaw while still entering ahead of the beginning of the uncombed tail portions of such bers, so that the comb enters the fringe more than' half the length of the fibers back from the edge of the fringe. As a result, the extent of combed fringe infront of the top comb is substantially longer than in prior machines, which makes possible a prolonged feeding movement of this fringe into the nip of the detach.

The novel mounting of the top comb permits it to be easily swung up out of the way for threading up, cleaning, repairs, and other purposes.

Thus, the two links |21 are merely unhooked from their pins |33, the comb is liftedslightly to clear the top detaching rolls, with attendant upward sliding of screw-rods I2| through sleeves 1,23, and 'the Whole comb structure is then swung forward and upward over its axis of rotation on studs I1 so that sleeves (|23 rest against the adjacent corners on the tops of hubs 22, the comb structure thus remaining out of the way until reinstated in working position by a reversal of these simple operations. The depth of penetration vof the top comb and the .location of its path ofv travel are adjusted by manipulation of screwrods |2I up or down in bosses II9.

The detaching rolls include a bottom roll 1 having a fluted metallic surface and of substantially double the diameter previously used, being on the order of two inches in diameter so as to give more extended support to the long combed have no bodily movement in space, except that they are yieldingly pressed down toward the surface of bottom roll 1 by spring weighting means enabling them to rise as the combed tufts enter between them and the bottom roll, such .spring means being strong enough, to insure a, rm grip on the fibers introduced by the swing frame between top roll 8 and the preceding fed-back combed tufts sufficient to draw out the bers and to detach the rear end of the combed tuft from the supply lap as the swing`frame recedes.

A feature of theweighting means for top detaching rolls 8, II), is the provision for instantaneously releasing the rolls from pressure and reestablishing such pressure. To these ends, as shown in Figs. 3, 15, and 16, a small stand 4 is affixed to a bracket 6 extending forwardly from the upright I9 at each side of each comber head, and a stud I2 is fixed in a hub in each stand. On eachof these studs is pivoted a lever I4 having its upper arm pivotally connected by a bolt I6 to aclevis formed as a part of a yoke I8 which fits over needle bearings 20 positioned on the journals of top rolls 8, I8. The lower arm of each lever I4 terminates in an eye through which extends a rod 22 screwed into a boss on a hub 24 rotating on a, rod 26 fixed in hubs in the ends of arms 2-8 which are pivotally mounted' on studs I2 just outside the -arms I4. Expanding coil springs 30 on rods 22 are confined between the eyed ends of levers I4 and the bosses on the associated hubs 24, so that when arms 28 and rod 2 6 joining them are swung clockwise in Fig. 15 the springs 3|) are stressed to bias lever I4 in a clockwise direction, thus putting a-downward pressure on each yoke I8 which is transmitted to rolls 8, I8, to press them downward against the surface of bottom detaching roll 1. To operate arms 28 in thismanner, the left-hand one of such arms is continued upwardly to form a hand-lever 32. which. is provided with a detent in the formof a spring-pressed plunger Working in a boss 34 on the lever and engaging within a, hole in the upper end of an extension 36 on stand 4. Thus. with the parts in the pressure applying relation shown, withdrawal of the spring plunger, by means of the knob 38, from engagement with the hole in extension 36 releases lever 32 and arms 28 for counterclockwise rotation, rst under the push of spring 30 and thereafter by a, manual pull forward on handle 32,'the lock-nuts on'rod -sion 36 in front of the hole and then snapping into the hole therein to hold the parts again in working position.

The studs I2 also form the pivots for the hubs 48, Fig. 16, of clearer-boards (not shown) which rest by gravity on top detaching rolls 8, I0.

Top rolls 8, I0, are rotated solely through frictional engagement with the combed tufts which intervene between them and the surface of roll 1 and which are fed back and forth by the rotation of bottom roll 1 in alternately opposite directions as shown in Fig. 13. Thus, as the swing frame swings forward, bottom detaching roll 1 starts to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 4, starting slowly just before the leading fibers of the'advancing fringe protruding from the nipper jaws reach the bite between rolls 1 and 8. end

thereafter accelerating rapidly, until it has made preferably or more inches of surface travel.

Top rolls 8, l0, rotate in clockwise direction for an equal amount of surface travel. Thus first the ends of the foremost bers are grasped by rolls 1 and] and pulled forward, while the forward swing of the swing.frame, with accompanying forward movement of the top comb, progressively feeds the leading endl of the succeeding bers of the fringe into the nip of detaching rolls 1 and l.- The swing frame starts backward as detaching roll 'I completes its counterclockwise movement retracting the remaining bers of the lap out of the reach of the detaching rolls and thus eecting the detachment of the combed tuft held by the detaching rolls from the supply extending through the open nipper jaws. As feed roll 13 has advanced the lap about V5 inch during the forward swing, and the detaching rolls have progressively pulled forward the bers of the combed fringe throughout nearly all the approximately 5 inches of their surf-ace travel, an extension of the combed tuft of around 20 times is achieved. Because the combed fringe forward ofthe top comb is long. and the surface travel of the detaching roll fl forward is long and rapid, the swing frame can continue its forward swing for a prolonged feeding period and thus feed fewer bers at any given moment into the detaching rolls, even with a double-weight lap. Since the bers whose leading ends are gripped by the detaching rolls at the instant of detaching also are pulled out from the fringe and form the rear end-portion of the detached tuft. the total length of the latter is on the order of 5% inches, depending on the promptness of entry of the fringe between the detaching rolls after the .latter start forward and the length of staple which the machine is set to reject and to throw down as waste, this latter being determined as heretofore by the closeness of approach of the lower nipper jaw to the nip of the detaching rolls. On account of the relatively great extension of the tuft, even with 1500 grain supply lap the tuft is thin and easily handled by the detaching rolls.

The piecing-up of the detached combed tufts into a continuous combed web, lap, or sheet is effected as usual by rotating the detaching rolls reversely to feed back the preceding detached combed tuft for a part of its length so that the next combed tuft is superposed thereon in partially overlapping relation. Departing from prior practice, however, each successive combed tuft is overlapped for more than half of its length onto its immediately preceding tuft so that the resulting combed web at all points in its length ismade up of at least two superposed combed tufts. Thus, with the parts set to produce a combed tuft of the length stated, the detaching rolls are arranged to rotate reversely for a distance of surface travel of around 4 inches. producing an exactlycorresponding extent of feedback cf the combed web and a rcugmy corre! sponding extent of overlap of the successive combed tufts as each is superposed thereon. For example, with a 5% inch length combed tuft. and an overlap of approximately 4 inches of each of such tufts upon its preceding tuft, a multiply combed web such as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12 is formed, which is actually 4 plies thick at all points in its length. Fig. 13 shows diagrammatically how this -is done, with the head and tail ends of the first combed tuft indicated at' a, a, of the second at b, b, etc. In the phase illustrated, the tail end of the last detached tuft end-portion of each tuft, at the top surface of the combed lap, is balanced or equalized at the bottom surface of the lap by the equivalent trailing tapered end-portion of a preceding combed tuft havinga reverse taper, the two tapered end-portions together making up a thickness which is substantially the equivalent of that of the intermediate portions of any one of the combed tufts. Between these two tapered endportions lie the full-thickness intermediate portions of at least two other combed tufts, so that the resulting combed web is made up of the equivalent of three full-thickness combed tufts at all points in its length, as in Fig. 12. This may be increased to four or more as indicated in Fig. 13. Thus the combed web is given a substantially uniform ber density in al1 sections of its length in the act of piecing up the successive combed tufts, which uniform ber density once achieved becomes a permanent attribute of the sliver formed by condensing the combed web as i hence stronger yarn for the same cont and staple and a stronger. smoother, and more durable fabric. The uniformity initially imparted to the sliver' eliminatesv or greatly reduces the need for the conventional manifold doublings and the multiplicity of draftings which such doublings impose in the spinning, in the effort to fili in and compensate for the thin places in the sliver created by the manner of piecing up employed in 'prior combers and resulting. in a combed lap characteristically banded by alternate thick and thin places. It is not necessary to match up the leading end of one combed tuft in vertical line with the trailing end of the third preceding or any other tuft, since the multiply nature of the combed lap renders the percentage variation of total ber density much lower at the beginning and end of each tuft, especially in view of the prolonged extent lof the tapering endportions effected by the present machine, than in the prior combed lapwith its alternate oneply and two-ply construction.

Front top detaching roll Il serves to aid the.

other two rolls in pressing each succeeding combed tuft into adherence to the preceding tuft, and in consolidating the superposed tufts into a strong and coherent lap. Also, working with rear top roll 8 it shapes each successive @ift to the curvature of bottom roll 1, thereby imparting a curved set to this and the underlying preceding tufts which causes them to follow closely the surface of bottom roll 1 as in Fig. 13 when fed back for piecing up, so as to tend to keep them 'out of contact with combing cylinder l and prevent stripping o of the latest tuft or robbing of ber therefrom by the needles or other parts of thiscylinder, and thus obviates the necessity to give the rear top roll a rolling bodily movement back and forth on the bottom detaching roll. As the drafting and detaching rotation of bottom roll Tforwardly is effected at very high speed and occupies less than 1/4 of the machine cycle, the balance of the machine cycle is available and is used for the feed-back, achieving an easy 13 movement which lets the fed-back tufts follow the surface of roll 1 closely, and incidentally re,- duces the jerk on the combed web in the pan which has resulted in pulling it apart at this point in prior machines.

The novel housing 9 which surrounds the combing cylinder I from about the level of its axis downward and which also encloses stripping brush performs an important part in making possible the exceptionally long yfeed-back Without tearing or robbing of the combed lap by the combing cylind-er. Housing 9 fits very closely about both ends of combing cylinder I and extends into close proximity to the surface of such cylinder at the rear thereof, while its front wall stands close to the fiuted surface of detaching roll 1 and in the vertical plane of the axis of the latter. Inside this housing,` and extending from end to end thereof is mounted a shield or baffle |39 which has its top edge in close proximity to the surface of combing cylinder I, but spaced away from the surface of bottom detaching roll 1 and from the front wall of housing 9 suiiiciently to afford a clear passage between it and such roll, and also the said front wall, for the recoilng combed tuftswhen fed back for piecing up. Air is exhausted continuously from within housing 9 during the operation of the machine by means described hereinafter, and the arrangement of the housing causes practically all the make-up air to enter as a continuous downdraft between combing cylinder I and detaching roll 1. The

. shield |39 diverts this downdraft away from the surface of combing cylinder I and forward beneath detachingroll 1 to descend between the shield and the front wall of housing 9, so that as shown in Fig. 13 the fed-back combed tufts are held against the surface of detaching roll 1 nearly to the point where such surface passes the top of the front wall of housing 9, and thence slant forward below detaching roll 1. Thus is made possible the extremely long feed-back of the rear end of the combed tuft to a point below the horizontal planev of the axis 2 of the combing cylinder, required in accordance with the invention, without danger of the terminal combed tuft being torn off or robbed of iiber through engagement with the combing cylinder` This is aided by 1ocating the bottom detaching roll 1 far enough forward so that it does not overhang the combing cylinder I. The downdraft, as heretofore and as noted, alsodisposes of fly produced during the combing and detaching, and a large part of the short fiber, neps, trash, etc., combed out by the top comb. Further toA prevent disturbance of the fed-back combed tufts, a horizontal extension |4| of shield |39 extends throughout the length of housing 9 with its edge close to the line of contact between combing cylinder I and brush 5, and the lower edge of shield |39 is extended horizontally rearwardly at |43, to restrain the air currents produced by the rotation of brush 5.

The drive for the rock shaft la which eireets) outward face of a large spur gear |55 mounted on main shaft 2 on which the several combing cylinders I are fixed. This large gear is driven by a pinion |51 on a ja'ckshaft |59 driven by a pull-ey |6I outside the gear box |49 and connected by belt |1| to pulley |13 on the shaft of the driving motor |15. The cam path |53 is shaped to hold the swing frame at its rearmost position for 90 of the rotation of combing cylinder shaft 2, during which period the needles of the half-lap on suchcylinder are combing the fringe held by the nippers, and thereafter to swing the swing frame forward moderately rapidly throughV the major portion of its swingr and then slowly for the nal part of its swing to feed the protruding fibers of the fringe progressively into the nip of the detaching rolls, such action occupying 120 of the cycle. There after the cam moves the swing frame rearwardly through an interval of 150 to its starting point.

Adjustment of the closeness of approach of the `nipper jaws, carried by the swing frame, to the nip of the detaching rolls to determine the length of fiber desired to be combed out and cast down' as waste is effected simultaneously for all the heads of the machine by loosening nut |62 on the threaded end of the pivot |63 on which cam-follower |5| is rotatably mounted, and then shifting pivot |63 in the desired direction along slot |65 by means of opposing set screws |61,

. with subsequent re-tightening of nut |62. Ad-

justment of the individual swing frames of the several heads is effected through -use of the set screws 23 as previously explained. Ordinarily this single simple change of the position of pin |63 in its slot in arm |45 is the only adjustment needed to change the setting of the entire machine to comb different lengths of fiber or to throw down different percentages of waste. As is obvious, it is impossible as a practical matter to get the swing frame out of time with the halflaps on the combing cylinders.

The drive for the detaching rolls is likewise greatly simplified. It comprises a face cam |69 bolted to the inward side of large gear v|55 by cap screws 11 passing through concentric slots I 19 permitting change of its angular relation to the main gear, so as to adjust the timing of the detaching rolls. In the path |6| formed in the face of this cam runs a cam-follower |83 which is fixed on a stud |85, Figs. 8, 10 and 11, of a plate |81 which has six studs |89 equally dispersed concentric'ally around a central hub |9| by means of which latter itis mounted for rotation on a stud |92 affixed to end-plate |94 of the gear box by suitable bolts, the plate |81 being confined between a shoulder on the stud and a retaining disk |96 aixed to the end of the stud by a screw. On the hub |9I of plate |81 is mounted a'sleeve gear |93 having a larger spur gear |95 formed on one end thereof and a smaller spur gear |91 at the other, the latter comprising the sun gear of a planetary unit, and 'between the two gears a hub |99 on which rotates the web 20| of a ring gear 203 having both internal and external teeth, the ring gear being mainly car- 'ried on ball bearings 204 in a raceway in plate |81. Small pinions 205 comprising the planetary gears of the unit rotate freely on the six studs, and mesh with both the internal teeth 201 on the ring gear and also with the small spur or sun gear |91 ofthe sleeve gear, so that if ring gear 203 were held from rotation while plate |81 is being oscillated aboutthe axis of its hub |9| for by cam |69, double the motion in the corresponding directions would be imparted to the sleeve gear |93 and through the large gear |98 thereon to a gear 209 fixed on the end of a shaft 2|| extending throughout the length of the machine ,and carrying the bottom detaching rolls 1 of all the combing heads, thus rocking the detaching rolls back and forth through 180 or more in each direction. But this rocking movement is modified by a continuous rotation imparted to ring gear 203, through a train of gearing com prising a pinion 2|3 engaging the external teeth of ring gear 203 and a larger gear 2|5 integral with pinion 2|3 but spaced away from it axially by a distance of several inches, which large gear is driven by a pinion 2|1 fixed on the main or combing cylinder shaft 2. Integral gears 2|3, 2|5, are mounted on a stud 2|9 xed in a plate attached to the inward wall of the inner end plate |54 of the gear box |43. This constant rotationof the ring gear adds about an inch to the distance traveled by 'the detaching roll in its forward direction of rotation, whiley drawing out and detaching the tuft. and subtracts this same amount from the motion otherwise imparted by cam |53 to the detaching roll in the reverse movement for piecing up. This is accomplished by members which remain constantly in engagement, instead of through clutches or other parts whichv must be disengaged and reengaged during each machine cycle as heretofore in certain instances, with resulting wear and tear, noise, and loss of setting. The only adjustment required in the present structure is that of the angular position of cam |53 upon large gear |55, used as noted to time the movements of the detaching rolls to that of the swing frame |5.

vThe drive for the creel rollers comprises a ratchet gear 223, Figs. and 7, within the gear housing and xed on the end of ashaft' 225 extending throughout the length of the machine andcarrying the front creel' rolls |0|. An arm 221 fixed on rockshaft I3v carries a pivoted gravitating pawl 229 having at its extremity a transverse edge which advances the ratchet each time the rockshaft swings the swing frame forwardly. The pivot connecting the pawl to arm 221 is adjustable radially in a slot in such arm to vary the speed of the creel rolls. The shaft support'- ing the rear creel roll |0|, Fig. 3, is connected byfchain 23| and suitable sprockets to shaft 225 to turn inunison therewith.

The, stripper brush 5 is driven by chain 233, Figs. 5 and 7, and sprockets 235 and 231 respectively fixed on.jackshaft |5llk and on full-lengthV shaft 235 on which the brushes are mounted.

With the drives for all the foregoing parts simplified and rendered so compact as to be housed in a gear box occupying only about l2 inches of the length of the machine, it becomes possible for the first time, so far as I am aware, to providev continuous lubrication for all parts occupying such box. This` is effected by constructing the lower part of the box |49 to serve :as Aan oil sump, in which one or more inches of oil are constantly maintained. An oil pump having a cylinder 24 I, Fig. 6, mounted on the bottom of the box with its intake port below the level of the oil in the sump pumps such oil up through a pipe 243 and discharges it in jets of substantial force from the end 245 of such pipe against rockshaft |3 at midwith ofthe box, so that Vthe oil constantly spatters over all moving parts within the box and drips onto such parts from the rockshaft, keeping all parts continuously and thoroughly lubricated and in particular avoiding the wear of the cams actuating the detaching rolls and other parts effecting the detaching and piecing up, which has been so troublesome in the past. A pin 241 adjustably fixed in a slot in a short arm 249 extending from the hub of arm |45 is joined by connecting rod 25| to. piston 253 of the pump to actuate the latter.

The novel and improved facilities for automatically salvaging and disposing of the waste produced in the operation of the machine involve the use of a heavy member 255, Figs. 1 and 3. of inverted U-section as the frame or backbone of the whole machine. By the simple expedient of clo'sing the ends oi this member, herein by integral webs 251, and closing the bottom by lengths of sheet metal 255 turned up at the sides and fastened on by screws, this backbone is converted into a waste duct.. Large inlet ports 25| are formed in the top wall of member 255'within each housing 9 of each comberv head, and a plate 253 Vwhich is substituted in one spot for the sheet metal closure means 253 on the bottom of channel member 255 has a central aperture equipped with a collar 255 inwhich is secured one end of a conduit 201 the other end of which is connected to the axial intake port of a centrifugal blower 255 directconnected to the shaft of motor |15. The discharge port of thevblower has a conduit 21| which leads directly to a waste-bin (not shown) or other suitable collection point for the waste from a group of combers. 'I'he result is that Vall waste removed from the half-lap by stripper brush 5 and thrown off within housing 5, as well as the fly produced in the combing which is all drawn down by the draft induced between combing cylinder |r and detaching roll T by blower 255. are continuously carried off through the ports 25| from each comber head,

end of combing cylinder shaft 2.

through the duet formed within backbone memberl 255, throughconduits 2514 and 21|, and disposed of in the waste bin automatically. In this manner the expense and nuisance of providing and attendingv to individual catcher boxes behind each head, or the more objectionable practice of letting the waste pile up on the floor beneath each head in unsightly manner, with added difficulty of handling, risk of contamination of the waste, and creation of a fire hazard. are completely avoided, the elimination of manual doiflng representing a veryl material saving in mdlength of the back wall of housing 3, so that thescreen completely covers inlet port 25| in member 255. This is withdrawn after a few minutes, and the amount of waste caught by the screen is checked against the weight of the stockl fed. to that head in the same 'interval of time. A hand-hole 215 in the back wall of housing 5, covered by a vertically swinging cover 211, gives access tothe housing for cleaning stripper brush 5, and for other purposes.

The drawbox 215 is of any suitable or preferred construction having capacity to handle'the increased weight of sliver produced.

The pairs of drawing rolls are driven at successively faster speeds by gear trains of standard or any preferred design taking power from the A feature of improvement is thatl these gears run in oil retained in a sump in the bottom of a gear case 323 having a removable cover provided with a 17 The calendar rolls 325 which draw the sliver from the pans through trumpets (not shown) are driven from the gears in the box 323 by a shaft extending the full length of the machine beneath sliver table 321.

By reason of the simplified structure a great reduction has been effected in the number of moving parts as compared with prior combers, and at the same time the bearings of the remaining moving parts have been made more accessible and adapted to the use of anti-friction bearings and pressure lubrication fittings, thereby reducing the frequency and effort of lubricating the whole machine, withresultant notable saving in the cost of maintenance and servicing, and in power consumption, in addition to the material reduction in the cost of construction.

The coiler mechanism 323 is of standard or any preferred design, taking its drive from within gear box 323.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which the invention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications maybe made therein by any person skilled in the art. without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I dojnot wish to be limited to the particular forms shown, or to the details of construction thereof, but what I do claim is:

1. A method of piecing up the detached combed and drafted tufts from a comber head which includes the steps of assembling two successive detached tufts of combed fibers so that each tuft overlaps the other for two-thirds of its length, and applying a third detached tuft of combed and drafted fibers from such comber head so that a line of junction between the first two is located intermediate the length of the third tuft.

2. A method of combing textile fibers which includes the step of piecing up detached combed the fibers held by the nipper jaws, detaching rolls taking the fibers from the nipper jaws, and means actuating the feed roll and the detaching rolls and imparting a forward surface travel to the latter at leasttwenty times as great as that of the feed roll and a rearward travel overlapping the successive tufts into a web of at least three plies thick at all points.

8. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a revolving combing cylinder, a detaching roll rotating on a fixed axis, a housing partially surrounding the combing cylinder, y

means presenting the fibers to the combing cylinder and then to the detaching roll for the detachment thereby of a combed tuft of fibers,

means actuating the detaching roll to feed back a tuft of combed fibers long enough to extend below the horizontal plane through the axis of the combing cylinder, and a shield within the housing in fixed and spaced relation to the detaching roll and the combing cylinder holding the fed-back tuft out of contact with the combing cylinder.

9. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, means feeding a supply of fibers,

a combing cylinder, a roll detaching combed tufts includes the step of piecing up detached combed and drafted tufts by overlapping the successive tufts so that at least two plies of combed tufts intervene between the head end of oneA combed tuft and the nearest tail end of a preceding combed tuft.

4. A method of combing textile fibers which includes the step of piecing up detached combed and drafted tufts by overlapping the successive tufts in multiply relation so that the resulting web has at allpoints a thickness of at least three plies of combed tufts.

- 5. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, means feeding and combing the fibers, and means including a detaching roll drawing and detaching the combed fibers in tufts, f

,three tufts thick at all points in its length.

"7. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, nipper jaws, a feed roll feeding the fibers through the nipper jaws, means combing of fibers from the supply and feeding them back for piecing up, means creating a current of air between the combing cylinder and the detaching roll, and a baffle also intervening between the combing cylinder and the detaching roll.

10. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in`

combination, means feeding a supply of fibers, a combing cylinder, a roll detaching combed tufts of fibers from the supply and feeding them back for piecing up, a housing partially surrounding the combing cylinder and the detaching roll, means exhausting air from the housing to create a draft between the combing cylinder and the detaching roll,and means diverting such draft away from the combing cylinder.

11. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, nipper jaws, a rockshaft, means thereon supporting the nipper jaws to swing about the axis of the rockshaft, a top comb swinging about a fixed center apart from the axis of the rockshaft, and means imparting simultaneous swinging movement to the jaws and the comb from the rockshaft. l

12. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, nipper jaws, a rockshaft, means on the rockshaft supporting and swinging the nipper jaws back and forth about th'e axis of the rockshaft as the rockshaft rocks, a top comb swinging about a different fixed center, and a link connecting the comb and the said supporting means and actuating the comb.

13. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combinatioin, a fixed frame, a rockshaft, means rocking the rockshaft, relatively movable nipper jaws supported by and swung back and forth by the rockshaft, and means on the frame resisting the bodily movement of one of the jaws in the backward and forward directions and thereby causing the opening and shutting of the jaws.

14. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a fixed abutment, a rockshaft, a frame suspended from and swung back van'd forth by such rockshaft, a lower nipper jaw in operatively fixed relation on such frame, an upper nipper jaw pivotally mounted on such frame, and means in operative connection with the abutment and with the upper jaw alternately holding back on such jaw as the frame swings forward ascenso and pushing forward on such jaw as the frame swings back, to swing the jaw about its pivot and effect the opening and closing of the jaws.

15. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a fixed abutment, a rockshaft, a frame suspended from and swung back and forth by such rockshaft, a lower nipper jaw in operatively fixed relation on such frame, an upper nipper jaw, means including an arm mounting the upper jaw pivotally upon the frame, and a link connecting the arm to the fixed abutment and alternately pulling and pushing on the arm to move the upper jaw about its pivot as the frame is moved in alternately opposite directions.

16. In a machine for combing textile fibers,

in combination, a combing cylinder, a shaft on which such cylinder is fixed, a detaching roll detaching tufts of fibers combed by such cylinder,

a gear train driving the detaching roll from such shaft including a sun gear and at least one planetary gear engaging therewith, cam means on the combing cylinder shaft causing bodily movement of the planetary gear about the sun gear, and a. gear coaxial with the sun gear continuously driving the planetary gearI 17. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a combing cylinder, a detaching roll, means presenting fibers to the combing cylinder and to the detaching roll, and means for rotating the latter alternately in opposite directions including a gear driving the roll, at least one pinion driving the gear, a gear having internal teeth driving the pinion, means driving the internal-toothed gear at constant speed, and means moving the pinion -bodily about the axis of the first-named gear alternately in opposite directions.

18. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a combing cylinder, a detaching roll, means presenting fibers to the combing cylinder and to the detaching roll, and means for rotating the latter alternately in opposite directions including a gear driving the roll, a plate rotatable coaxially with the roll gear, a ring gear having internal and external teeth and rotatable coaxially with the roll gear, pinions on the plate driven by the internal teeth and driving the roll gear, means driving the ring gear at constant speed by engagement with its external teeth, and means oscillating the plate.

19. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a swing frame, nippers and a feed roll thereon, a rockshaft entirely supporting and actuating the swing frame, a combing cylinder, a rotating shaft on which the cylinder is fixed, a detaching roll, means driving the latter from the cylinder shaft, a cam on such shaft actuating the rockshaft and a second cam on such shaft periodically reversing the direction of rotation of the detaching roll and angularly adjustable about such shaft to vary the timing of this reversal.

20. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a combing cylinder, a detaching roll, nippers traveling back and forth between the cylinder and the roll, a rockshaft carrying the nippers, a shaft on which the combing cylinder is fixed, a cam on the latter shaft, an arm operatively fixed on the rockshaft, a cam-follower on the arm and actuated by such cam, and means for varying the position of the cam-follower angularly about the rockshaft to determine the closeness of approach of the nippers to the detaching roll.

21. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, multiple comberheads each includy 2@ ing a combing cylinder and stripping means for the cylinder and a housing enclosing the stripping means and a part of the cylinder, a hollow frame member supporting the comber heads and having a passage communicating with the housing interiors, and air exhausting means connected to the interior of the hollow frame member creating a current of air carrying off via the hollow member the fibers stripped from the comb- .ing cylinders.

22. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, multiple comber heads each including a combing cylinder and vstripping means for the cylinder and a housing enclosing the stripping means and a part of the cylinder, a hollow frame member supporting the comber heads and having a passage communicating with the housing interiors, air exhausting means connected to the interior of the hollow frame member creating currents of air carrying off via the hollow member the fibers stripped from the combing cylinders, and duct means conducting the air currents and the fibers carried thereby from the several comber heads to a common waste receptacle.

23. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a combing cylinder, stripping means therefor, a housing enclosing the stripping means and a part of the cylinder, duct means in unobstructed communication with the housing interior, means creating a current of air through the housing and thence through the duct to transport the combed-out-flbers through the duct, and means for temporarily introducing a screen across the path of the air current to determine the amount of fibers being combed out.

24. In a machine for combing textile bers, in combination, a rockshaft, means for rocking the rockshaft, a swing frame fixed on and swung back and forth by the rockshaft, nippers and a feed-roll carried by the swing frame and actuated by the swing thereof, lap rolls, means driving the lap rolls from the rockshaft, and a swingably mounted top comb also swung back and forth by the swing of the swing frame.

25. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, a combing cylinder, nipper jaws gripping the fibers at the points where the fibers emerge from the jaws, detaching rolls comprising opposed rolls of which the bottom roll is substantially twice the diameter of the other roll. and means driving the detaching rolls to effect a draft on the order of 15 or more times on the tuft being detached reducing the weight of fiber handled at a given instant by the detaching rolls and to effect an overlap of each tuft on the preceding tuft exceeding one-half of the length of the tuft being detached, whereby the combed lap is composed of at least three piles of combed tufts at all points in its length, the detaching rolls feeding back the overlapping combed tufts through their nip for at least twothirds of the length of the final tuft and the bottom detaching roll making continuous contact with the portions of the tufts which have been passed back through such nip for ,at least one-half the full extent of such feed-back to support the combed tufts thus fed back through the nip.

26. In a combing machine for textile bers, in combination, a combing cylinder, nippers which grip the fibers of a supply lap at the points on the nipper jaws lwhichapproach clos'- est to the combing cylinder, a combing cylinder combing substantially the entire protruding n combed fringe extending from the jaws, .a fixed top detaching roll, a lbottom detaching roll substantially twice the diameter of said top roll providing extended support for the fed-back tufts, means for creating and directing a flow of air holding the fed-back tufts against the surface of the bottom detaching roll and clear of other surfaces. and driving means for thedef taching rolls producing adraft of each combed tuft during detaching thereof on the order of or more times 'and producing a reversev rotation of said detaching rolls, following detaching, exceeding one-half of the forward rotation effecting an overlap of each tuft on the preceding tuft of more than two-thirds the tuft length'.

27. A method of combing textile fibers which includes the steps of lsubjecting the fibers of la supply lap having a weight of approximatelyv 115 grains per yard per inch of lap width first to combing, then to a draft by detaching rolls on the order of or more times the length of feed per nip of the supply lap, and to detaching and piecing-up operations.

28. The improvement in the combing of textile fibers by the process of combing, drawing, detaching, and piecing up a web of fibers which includes the steps of combing fibers of a supply lap having a weight of approximately 115 grains per yard per inch of lap width, drafting the .combed fibers on the order of 20 or more times the length of feed per nip of the'supply lap, detaching the combed and .drafted fibers in tufts atthe completion of the drawing,` and piecing up the detached tufts into a web not less-than three tufts thick `at all points in its length. l

29, The improvement in the combing of textle'iibers by the process of combing, drawing, detaching, and piecing up a web of fibers which includes the steps of combing fibers of a supply lap having a weight of approximately 115 grains per yard per inch of lap width, drafting the combed fibers on the order of 20 or more times the lengthv of feed per nip of the supply lap, detaching the combed and drafted" fibers in tufts at the completion of the drawing, feeding back the terminal tuft for aboutv 4 times the average length of the fibers being combed, supporting such tuft for a distanceof about 3 times such fiber length, and holding such tuft against its support by a current of air.

30. A method of combing textile fibers which includes the steps of combing, drawing, and detaching v,the fibers in tufts having a length of about 5 times the average length of the fibers being combed, piecing up the tufts by feeding back'the terminal tuft for a distance of about 4 times such average length, supporting the fedback tuft upon a surface extending lengthwise ofthe vtuft throughout a distance of about 3 times such average length, and holding the tuft against such support by a -current of air.

r31.l The method' of piecing up the detached combed and drafted tufts from a comber head which includes the steps of feeding back the pieced-up tufts for a distance exceeding the length of the component fibers, and preventing thefed-back terminal tufts or parts thereof from falling off or being torn off, by holding the` component fibers by a directed fiow of air.

32. In `a machine for combing textile fibers.

` in combination, means feeding and combing the fibers. and detaching and piecing-up means comprising a bottom detaching roll and two top detaching rolls pressing against the bottom roll, the v'latter being of substantially twice the diameter of a top roll and supporting the combed lap for a length exceeding twice the average lengthof the fibers when such lap is fed back over the bottom roll.

33. In a machine for combing cotton fibers, in combination, means feeding and combing the iibers,. and detaching and piecing-up means comprising a bottom detaching roll and a top detaching roll pressing against the bottom roll, the latter being of a circumference greater than 4 times the average length of the cotton fibers being combed and providing extended support for the combed lap of fibers when fed back thereover.

34. In a machine for combing textile fibers, in combination, means feeding a supply of fibers, a combing cylinder, a roll'detaching combed tufts of fibers from the supply and feeding them back for piecing-up, means creating a current of air between the combing cylinder and the detaching roll, and means directing such air curing to create a draft between the combing cylinder and the detaching roll, and means substantially confining such draft to a path of travel over that surface of the detaching roll over which the combed tufts are fed back.

oDUS o. HINSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 415,346 McQueen et al Nov. 19, 1889 620,747 Delette Mar. 7, 1899 625,967 -Delette May 30, 1899 867,072 Owen Sept. 24, 1907 938,189 Wenning Oct. 26, 1909 1,141,673 Whitin June 1,v 1915 1,157,033 Owen Oct. 19, 1915 1,169,046 Lunn Jan. 18, 1916 1,351,076 vTunstall Aug. 31, 1920 1,369,532 Nasmith Feb. 22, 1921 1,401,179 Nasmith Dec. 27, 1921 1,464,098 Helland Aug. 7, 1923 1,464,820 Heinrich Aug. 14, 1923 1,479,392 McGowan Jan. 1, 1924 1,495,743 Horridge May 27, 1924 1,544,228 Dooley June 30, 1925 1,551,840 Nasmith Sept. l, 1925 1,629,092 Crockett May 17, 1927 1,671,101 Crockett May 29, 1928 1,778,873 Sundberg Oct.A 21, 1930 1,826,494 Barker Oct. 6, 1931 1,905,300 Mello Apr. 25, 1933 1,905,336 Blanchard Apr. 25, 1933 (Other references on following page) 

